<<As for the Datsun Roadster, if it had another badge...
The badge has always been Datsun's/Nissan's biggest problem on the
continent.
Just like Thomas said, we made e few nice sports cars that looked like
sports cars.
But most often Datsun/Nissan's powerfull engines were put in cars that
looked like saloon cars, cars with no identity, "shy cars" except for
the Sunny N14 GTI-R with its big air intake on the hood and the NX100
with its special front bumper and headlights.
Datsun/Nissan in Europe have never been as implicated in motorsports
than Nissan US.
Young people here, are buying cars of manufactures that do track
racing or rallying, like Mitsu, Subaru, Toyota, Peugeot, Ford and
Renault. The leaders are the frenchies, Peugeot & Renault as the
youngster can afford them.
For roadsters or "cabrios" (topless cars with 4 seats) again, Renault
& Peugeot and sometimes VW"Rabbit".
For those who have more $$$ to spend, Mercedes SL or SLK , Porsche
Boxter or BMW.
You can easily understand that here on the continent, driving a car
has to do with "identity", "image" and "personality".
During the years Datsun/Nissan US acquired these three things. Here in
Europe they did not enough for that, and of course we have to fight
this old "demon"- first car build in Germany- but that doesn't mean
they are the BEST, are they.
Chris-The Belgian Roadster
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1424148&a=10670695&f=0
-----Urspr|ngliche Nachricht-----
Von: "Thomas - Sweden" <csp311@telia.com>
An: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Gesendet: Dienstag, 13. November 2001 17:50
Betreff: Re: Sid's opinion (diatribe) on the BMW Coupe, Z3 and 350Z
> The younger crowd buy cars on credit. In fact most people do.
> When I was young (1970's) a 240Z looked like a sportscar.
> Today they all look like Audi TT. A cute little blimp that looks
> like it was designed by the Disney studio for a sequel of Herbie.
> Guess what, the TT used to flip over forward at high speed until
> the made a big recall and bolted a 20 lbs weight inside the rear
> bumper, along with a rear ducktail spoiler.
>
> Nissan could sell a lot more of the 350Z if it was based on the
> Sentra Si-R(?) with FWD. That's what you get for $20K these
> days. One of the best performing "sportscars" from Japan today
> is Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 7 but it's got 4 doors and dont
> look like one.
>
> I like cars that looks like the latest Aston Martin Vanquish,
> Ferrari 456 or 550 and Maserati 3200GT. From being too
> expensive for most people new, at least the Maserati 3200GT
> is affordable second hand. I like a roof over my head and classic
> sportscar lines like they used to be. BMW Z3 Coupi is not
> good looking but it's got the long hood/short tail. Zender straight8
> concept car was based on the Z3M Roadster and that one have
> more styling flashbacks to the original Z. BMW sell a lot of Z3's
> so maybe that market segment is filled by now. They dont need
> any 20 lbs weight hanging inside the rear bumper either.
>
> As for the Datsun Roadster, if it had another badge...
>
> Thomas
>
> Alex Avery wrote:
>
> > >design. I think that Thomas in Sweden hit the nail on the head.
The 350Z
> > >is not designed for the types that like the Roadster, nor for the
types that
> > >like the early Z cars. If it had been, it would be a failure.
To be
> > >successful, it needs to appeal to the current sporty car market.
> >
> > I thought that I was part of the current sporty car market! I'm
32. I
> > don't know many 23-year-old guys with a spare $30K lying around.
> >
> > >As a closing thought, remember that most of the established US
automotive
> > >press dogged the Roadster when it came out, and still gripes
about it in
> > >retrospect.
> >
> > Yeah, and how many roadsters sold in the US? (don't git yer undies
all
> > bunched up, I'm a roadster guy too) Now, how many 1st generation Z
cars
> > sold in the US? I'm just saying that the Z car appealed to a far
larger
> > market than roadsters.
> >
> > The foreign magazines were more kind. I think this is a
> > >subconscious disdain for Japanese autos. If the Roadster had an
Alfa Romeo
> > >badge or some British Leyland badge on the rear, it would have
been revered.
> > >
> > >For those that want to flame my opinions, fire at will.
> > >
> > >Sidney Raper
> > >1964 1500
> > >1967 SRL311 00060
> > >1967 SRL311 00076
> > >Jacksonville Florida
> > >http://www.geocities.com/roadsternut/index.html
>
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